Texaco Country Showdown will visit Syracuse's Regional Market

Jim Commentucci/The Post-StandardEmily Arnold of Addison performs during the Colgate Country Showdown in 2009 at the New York State Fair's grandstand. The event, now titled the Texaco Country Showdown, will visit the Syracuse Regional Market on July 24.

Central New York country musicians who want to be discovered should start getting a set list ready.

The 30th edition of the country's biggest country showdown will visit the Syracuse Regional Market on July 24.

It's called the Texaco Country Showdown. Fans may remember the event under the name it carried when the event visited the state fair grandstand in 2009, the Colgate Country Showdown.

Syracuse new country radio station WOLF 105.1 is the local sponsor.

Vocal or instrumental performers who'd like to compete need to submit a $20 fee to the station. Entry forms are available at the WOLF site.

Contestants must not have performed on a record that made the country chart top 100 of Billboard, Radio and Records or the Gavin Report during the last 18 months.

Winners from the local competitions advance to 40 state contests, where there's a $1,000 prize and a slot at the regionals. Five regional winners get an expense-paid trip to the nationals to compete for $100,000.